Watkins Shepard 30 day training as experienced by Warpdrvr

You got that right! Although there was another guy there for part of the day that seemed to be there because he either had to put off training for a week or so, or didn't pass the DMV tests and he's getting some refresher, I'm not sure. I know when I get to the practice range and road work, they combine classes from a couple of different locations, so once I get there I probably won't be getting the one-on-one, but one can hope....

As for day 2, it was air brakes all morning, a couple of old (but very informative) videos from the 80's with a "good ole boy" hosting it, a lot of time spent looking at, holding, inspecting and talking about the physical parts that make up the air brake system on a truck/trailer.Then I had 3 different reviews for the endorsement test. I aced all of them again at 100%. I'm trying to not be ####y since pride goeth before the fall, and I want to make sure to pass my tests...

After a late lunch, another video on combination vehicles with the "good ole boy" again then another 3 reviews and then the tests, which again, I passed at 100%. Then went over the homework from last night.

Got my homework assignment for tonight, which is another 3 chapters and the reviews. They cover the driveline, specialized trailers, and doubles/triples. That means tomorrow we will be covering the tanker and doubles/triples endorsements. Got out a few minutes early...

Well, I gotta go study now and then off to bed....talk to everyone soon

 

Hehe.... I'm doing well on the homework as well. I've always enjoyed school, even when I was little so I like stuff like this. Might be a whole different story when I get to the practice range

Day 3 consisted of videos about doubles/triples, discussion of such with the instructor, then the reviews and the tests (100&#37. That took up about half of the morning.

We then had segments on: more about coupling/uncoupling, including doubles/triples, communicating with other drivers (turn signals and such), backing combination vehicles, and speed management. There were videos, of course, and the instructor and I spent time discussing all the subjects. We then broke for lunch.

After lunch, we resumed our discussions and videos, picking up at night driving operations and extreme driving conditions and/or weather. Skids and skid recovery was in there as well.

Then onto the tanker endorsement section. Guess what...more videos again and then discussion, reviews and testing on it.

Finished up the day working on Pre-Trip..memorizing and such. Probably spent half hour to 45 minutes on that, then got homework assignments and went home.

The homework tonite is another 3 chapters, Driving Techniques, Safe Driving, and Hazardous Materials. I was going to work on my Pre-Trip inspection memorizations, but I think S2B gave me his cold via email or something and don't feel very good, so I'm hitting the sack early. I'd like to take something for it, but have my drug screen tomorrow, so can't chance taking anything that would screw it up...

See you all tomorrow!

 

Yes, I do watch a LOT of videos. They are full of good info though. Most of them come from the PDTI (or is it the PTDI??), so I do pay attention! It's a necessary evil to help get the permit and endorsements... I am getting all the endorsements so I'm ready for whatever.

Day 4 went like this: A looong video about Hazmat, followed by a discussion between myself and the instructor, then reveiws and 3 different tests, which I again aced. That took up the whole morning.

After lunch, there were more videos and discussions on various topics, Hazard Awareness, Emergency Maneuvers, Skid Control, Accident Procedures, Fires, Hazmat Spills and Incident Reporting, 5th Wheel and Tandem Sliders, Specialized Rigs/Trailers, PM's and Servicing, and finally Recognizing and Reporting Malfunctions. We then took a short break.

After the break, we went over last nite's homework and I got my new assignment for today....only 2 chapters YAY!

After that, I worked on Pre-Trip Inspections. He tells me all about a given section of the rig, and shows me in a specific order of how to go thru it. I then study it for a few minutes until I think I have it memorized, then he makes me go up to the board and call it all out while indicating it on a slide. That method seems to work fairly well. Today I put all the pieces of the front of the tractor together and got mostly thru it with only a couple of stumbles....

I got to leave early as I had to go around the corner to a medical clinic for my drug screen...Oh the joys of peeing in a cup, LOL.

I just now finished studying and doing my homework assignments and tomorrow I have a mid-term......

Still under the weather, but since I've taken my drug screen, I can take something for it tonite. I'll be off to bed here in a few...Later all

 

I have finished the first week of training..WHEW!! So much information squeezed into my head..some of it I already knew as I had been self training for the tests for the last few weeks. I will be going to get my permit and endorsements on Monday after a quick review.

So, Day 5 was a little more kick back... we covered Handling Cargo, Cargo Documentation, Personal Safety and Health, including the required physical, Federal Drug and Alcohol Regs, and Fatigue and how to deal with it (1 word SLEEP!)
We also covered Trip Planning, Fuel Usage, Record Keeping, Fees and Taxes, Public and Customer Relations, and Employer/Employee Relations. Then had the morning break...

After that, we covered CDL Overview and Requirements (DUH!), which included the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, and the various tests to obtain and retain the CDL, Knowledge, Skills, and Road tests.

I then took my Mid Term test and passed it with flying colors. Lunch time!! On a side note...i had a really good cheeseburger from a little hole in the wall type place that was recommended by my instructor. Best one I've had in a while!

After lunch, a video on basic controls of a truck, and how to use them, steering, shifting, accelerating, braking and downshifting....and how to control the truck up and down hills. Took a real short break, went over the homework from the previous nite and got my assignments for the weekend....4 chapters to read.

Then went into Pre-Trip again, and spent the rest of the day on that. Learned the rear of the tractor, 2nd and 3rd axles and the 5th wheel and all the related stuff to that. It was a fairly easy day, but covered a lot of stuff.

A couple of days now to recharge myself and hopefully get over this cold that has dogged me most of the week. I'll post again on Monday evening, and hopefully will be fully permitted by then!!

Have a good weekend everybody, and stay safe out there!

 

Well, into the second week of training now, and other than fighting off this nasty cold, it's been going well.

Day 6...today is DMV permit test day. We spent over a couple of hours on heavy review, then I got some 3 1/2 hours of quality time at my local office

The good news is I passed all 7, yes 7 tests I took...seemed like a marathon testing event. Out of all the tests, I think I missed only 4 or 5 total..the girl was grading them fast so I didn't get to see the exact number missed, she only put a "P" on my paperwork for passed... I then ate a well deserved turkey sandwich and chips for lunch!

After I got back to school, the instructor took all my papers and faxed them into the school headquarters for my file. I talked with him for a little while about the process of testing and how much DMV sucks...

Then there was a lecture and more videos on Emergency Braking and Rollovers. The videos were cool..Really old trucks and the drivers were right out of the history of truck driving! On the Rollover one, they took trailers and attached outriggers to them and then tried to roll them over. I was quite amazed at how little it takes to get the last pup in a doubles to try to roll...opened my eyes!

Then went over the weekend's homework and got my assignments for tonite, 2 chapters, on Logs and Securement....got to go home early YIPPEE!!!

Just finished my homework and will be hitting the sack soon...see you all tomorrow!

 

Well, I didn't get around to posting yesterday. I was tired when I got home. I spent some quality time with my wife and hit the sack...

So, Yesterday consisted of....LOGS!! First, we had yet another video..on logs of course. Then had discussion about them and went over the homework from the night before which was on logs. Morning Break...

After break, there were practical exercises on them, and my instructor put up a slide with a blank log on it, and he sat in the back and told me thing like, Ok, you started driving at 730am and drove for 4 hours and stopped for lunch in St. Louis...and I had to complete a whole day. We then went over it.. We also covered the Monthly Summary Sheets. I then had a test on it, which I passed.

Then another video on Safe and Courteous Driving, which included Speeding/Driving Too Fast for Conditions, Safe Driving, Tailgating, and how your Feelings and Attitude affect your driving. Lunch Time!

After lunch, a video on Defensive Driving..."Magic Circles", which was a very old video, but still relevant.

Then another video on Emergency Maneuvers, followed by discussions on both videos.

Worked on Pre-Trip Procedures the rest of the day.

Today was my last day in the classroom, Day 8. The whole day consisted of Pre-Trip Procedures, over and over until I had it down. Oh, after lunch, we worked on the Air Brakes Procedures test as well.... At the very end, got to watch a cool video on cool show and race trucks...

Tomorrow I'll be at the Practice Range with a few other guys working on, what else, Pre-Trip! And the air brake test as well....hopefully we can also at least put the truck in gear and move it some...